Image processing apparatus, image pickup apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

an image processing apparatus that can easily change the categories of the main object, comprises, an object detection unit for detecting an object categorized as one of at least two categories from an image, a setting unit for setting a first category as a priority category on an object having a predetermined priority among one of the objects detected by the object detection unit; and a region designation unit for designating a predetermined region on an object on a display screen, wherein the setting unit can change the priority category from the first category to a second category different from the first category when the predetermined region of the object designated by the region designation unit is the second category.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus fordetecting an object.

Description of the Related Art

Hitherto, in an image processing device such as a digital camera or animage processing apparatus, it has been possible to have a function ofdetecting a predetermined object in an image and to control a focuscondition or an exposure condition on a priority basis with regard tothe detected object.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-51255discloses a camera that detects objects in an image, determines a mainobject that is closest to an image pickup apparatus or largest in adisplay screen, and controls a focus condition or an exposure conditionof the main object.

In recent years, not only human faces but irises, whole body, dogs,cats, birds, or various objects including animals are becoming able tobe detected. However, it has accordingly become difficult to select fromvarious objects detected by such detection method to determine the mainobject as a target object for a photographer.

Therefore, one of ways could be to preset a predetermined category foran object that has priority, by using a setting menu on the displayscreen and so on.

However, it is troublesome to change them using the setting menu on thedisplay screen when frequently changing categories for the main object.

Thus, one of objects of the present invention is to provide an imageprocessing apparatus that is capable of easily change the categories ofthe main object without troublesome operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the object, an image processing apparatus accordingto an aspect of the present invention includes at least one processor orcircuit configured to function as:

an object detection unit configured to detect an object categorized asone of at least two categories from an image;

a setting unit configured to set a first category as a priority categoryon an object having a predetermined priority among one of the objectsdetected by the object detection unit; and

a region designation unit configured to designate a predetermined regionon an object on a display screen;

wherein the setting unit is configured to change the priority categoryfrom the first category to a second category different from the firstcategory in a case where the predetermined region of the objectdesignated by the region designation unit is the second category.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of Embodiments with reference to the attacheddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus in Embodiment1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processingapparatus in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating another operation of the imageprocessing apparatus in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating further operation of the imageprocessing apparatus in Embodiment 1.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams illustrating examples of a displayscreen in Embodiment 1. FIG. 5A illustrates an example of a displayscreen on the display unit 28 when a priority object setting is “human”,FIG. 5B illustrates an example of the display screen when the priorityobject setting is “human” as shown in FIG. 5A and a user is touching ananimal (dog) on the screen. FIG. 5C illustrates an example of thedisplay screen after the user touched the animal (dog) on the screen.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processingapparatus in Embodiment 2.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating another operation of the imageprocessing apparatus in Embodiment 2.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating further operation of the imageprocessing apparatus in Embodiment 2.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processingapparatus in Embodiment 3.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another operation of the imageprocessing apparatus in Embodiment 3.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating examples of the displayscreen in Embodiment 3. FIG. 11A illustrates an example of the displayscreen when the priority object setting is “human”, FIG. 11B illustratesan example of the display screen when a user presses a first shutterrelease button 62 to start a focus detection operation.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processingapparatus in Embodiment 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a preferred mode of the present invention will be describedusing Embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.Meanwhile, in the drawings, the same members or components will bedenoted by the same reference numerals and signs, and repeateddescription will be omitted or simplified.

Further, in the Embodiments, an example in which the present inventionis applied to a digital (still) camera as an image processing apparatuswill be described. However, the image processing apparatuses in thepresent Embodiments include image processing apparatuses having animaging function such as a digital movie camera, a smartphone with acamera, a tablet computer with a camera, an on-vehicle camera, a networkcamera, and so on.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus in Embodiment1 of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus (an imagepickup apparatus) according to Embodiment 1 mainly consists of a digitalcamera 100 and a lens unit 300 that can be detached from the digitalcamera 100 as an exchangeable lens.

In the digital camera 100, a shutter 20 controls an exposure period ofincident light to an image pickup unit 22.

The image pickup unit 22 includes an image sensor such as a CCD or CMOSor the like for picking up an optical image and for converting it intoan electrical signal.

The image pickup unit 22 also includes an A/D conversion processingfunction and an AF evaluation value detection unit 23. In the AFevaluation value detection unit 23, a contrast signal obtained from adigital image signal and a phase difference signal obtained from aparallax image are calculated to be output to a system control unit 50.

An image processing unit 24 performs a resize process such as a pixelinterpolation or a size reduction, and a color conversion process to theimage data outputted from the image pickup unit 22 or to the image dataobtained from the memory control unit 15.

The image processing unit 24 also obtains distance information to anobject based on an AF evaluation value.

That is, the image processing unit 24 detects a phase differenceinformation from inputted two parallax image signals, so that thedistance information from the image pickup unit 22 to the object can beobtained pixel by pixel.

In addition, the image processing unit 24 also performs a predeterminedcalculation process using the image data to obtain exposure controlinformation. The system control unit 50 performs an exposure control anda focus adjustment based on the distance information and the exposurecontrol information. The exposure control includes an TTL (Through theLens) type AE (Auto Exposure control) and EF (Electronic Flash control).

The image processing unit 24 performs an AF (Auto Focus) process usingthe distance information. During the process, an output from the AFevaluation value detection unit 23 included in the image pickup unit 22is used.

The image processing unit 24 also performs a predetermined process usingthe image data to realize a TTL type AWB (Auto white balance) process.

The image processing unit 24 performs a development/compression processof a still image and a movie image and performs an extraction of featurevalues such as color information, luminance information, and so on fortracking the object.

That is, the feature values such as the color information, the luminanceinformation, and so on are extracted from a region of an object image (areference image or a main object) to be tracked, and then a region whosefeature values have the highest correlation with the feature values ofthe reference image is specified frame by frame, so that the main objectcan be tracked.

In this way, the image processing unit 24 functions as a tracking unitfor tracking the predetermined object base on the color information orthe luminance information.

An object detection unit 26 extracts an edge component from the imagedata by using a band pass filter in a horizontal and a verticaldirection. Detected edge components (contour information and so on) areoperated by using a pattern matching process, so that parts of facessuch as eyes, a nose, a mouth, an ear, and so on are extracted, therebyfaces can be detected.

In addition, the object detection unit 26 may perform an objectdetection by using a machine learning.

In the machine learning, by preparing learning models corresponding tocategories of a plurality of objects, objects of various categories canbe detected, thereby a specific object such as animals (dogs, cats,birds, or the like) or vehicles and so on can be detected.

That is, the object detection unit 26 detects objects of at least twocategories from images obtained by the image pickup unit.

The output data of the image pickup unit 22 is written into the memory32 via the image processing unit 24 and a memory control unit 15, or theoutput date from the image pickup unit 22 is directly written into amemory 32 via the memory control unit 15.

The memory 32 stores the image data that is obtained by the image pickupunit 22 and is AD converted, or the image data to be supplied to thedisplay unit 28 so as to function as a video memory for the imagedisplay.

The memory 32 has sufficient storage capacity for storing a plurality ofstill images or a predetermined length of movie and audio data.

A D/A converter 13 converts the digital video data stored in the memory32 into an analog signal to be supplied to the display unit 28 such asan LCD.

In this way, digital signals AD converted and outputted from the imagepickup unit 22 are once stored in the memory 32, and then are DAconverted to be supplied to the display unit 28 so that a through image(live view image) is displayed on the display unit, which functions asan electric view finder.

A nonvolatile memory 52 is electrically erasable and storable memorysuch as a flash memory and so on.

The nonvolatile memory 52 stores operation parameters for the systemcontrol unit 50, programs, and so on, wherein the program means computerprograms for executing operations illustrated in the followingflowcharts of the present Embodiment.

That is, the system control unit 50 includes a CPU as a computer andcontrols an entire digital camera 100, using the computer programsstored in the nonvolatile memory 52 to perform the operationsillustrated in the following flowcharts.

A system timer 53 is used for synchronously controlling each part of thesystem. The system memory 56 including a RAM is used for expanding theoperation parameters, constant values, or programs stored in thenonvolatile memory 52 for the system control unit 50.

A mode switch 60, a shutter release button 61 (including a first shutterrelease switch 62 and a second shutter release switch 6), an operationunit 70, and a touch panel operation unit 72 are for inputting variouskinds of instruction for operation to the system control unit 50.

The mode switch 60 switches operation modes of the system control unit50 to select one of the operation modes such as a still imagephotography mode, a movie image photography mode, a play mode, and soon.

The operation modes for still image photography includes an autophotography mode, an auto scene detection mode, a manual mode, aplurality of scene setting mode, a program AE mode, a custom mode, andso on. The mode switch 60 can directly select one of these modes for thestill image photography.

Or, the mode switch 60 may switch one of the modes for the still imagephotography, then another operation unit may be used to determine themode. Similarly, movie image photography may include a plurality ofmodes. The first shutter release switch 62 turns on when the shutterrelease button 61 in the digital camera 100 is half pressed, andproduces a first shutter release switch signal SW1.

In response to the first shutter release switch signal SW1, an AF (AutoFocus) process, an AE (Auto Exposure) process, an AWB (Auto WhiteBalance process) an EF (Electronic Flash) process, and so on arestarted.

A second shutter release switch 63 turns on when the shutter releasebutton 61 is fully pressed and produces a second shutter release switchsignal SW2. The system control unit 50 starts a sequence for a stillimage photography process in response to the second shutter releaseswitch signal SW2, and thereby image signals are read out from the imagepickup unit 22 and are stored in a storage unit 200.

The operation unit 70, which includes a plurality of operation members,and the touch panel operation unit 72 can selectively operate aplurality of function icons displayed on the display unit 28, andthereby functions as function buttons. A mouse and so on can beconnected to the digital camera 100 so as to function as a part of theoperation unit.

The function buttons may include, for example, an end button, a returnbutton, an image skip button, a jump button, a narrowing-down button, anattribute change button, a movie image photograph button, and so on. Forexample, when the menu button is pressed, a pull-down menu, whichincludes a plurality of selections, is displayed on the display screenof the display unit 28. Users can select one of the menus displayed onthe display screen by operating the mouse, a cross button, a set button,and so on.

In the present Embodiment, by using the touch panel operation unit 72,users can touch an intended object region to designate it.

In that case, the touch panel operation unit 72 functions as a regiondesignation unit for designating an intended object region on thedisplay screen. In this connection, other pointing devices such as amouse, a cross button, and so on, which are included in the operationunit 70, may be used to designate the intended object region on thedisplay screen. In that case, the pointing devices functions as a regiondesignation unit for designating an intended object region on thedisplay screen.

The menu displayed on the display screen may include a priority objectsetting for setting a main object having a priority category.

In the priority object setting, when a user sets “human” as the priorityobject, a human detection region is selected as the main object regionon a priority basis by the object detection unit 26, and when the usersets “animal” as the priority object, an animal detection region isselected as the main object region on a priority basis by the objectdetection unit 26.

The object detection unit 26 detects the main object on a priority basiscorresponding to the category set by the priority setting, displays amain object frame on or around the main object, and performs the focusadjustment and the exposure adjustment mainly for the main object.

A power control unit 41 includes a battery voltage detection circuit, aDC-DC converter, a switch circuit for selectively supply power to eachcircuit, and so on, and detects whether the battery is attached or not,types of the battery, remaining power of the battery, and so on.

The power control unit 41 controls the DC-DC converter based on a resultof the detection and instructions from the system control unit 50, andsupplies necessary voltage to each circuit including the storage unit200 for a necessary period.

A power unit 40 includes a primary battery, a secondary battery, an ACadapter, and so on.

A storage unit I/F 18 is an interface for the memory card, the storageunit 200 such as a hard disc, or the like.

The storage unit 200 stores image data and may include, for example, amemory card, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disc, and so on.

A connector 80 includes electrical contacts for electrically connectinga main body of the digital camera 100 with the lens unit 300.

The connector 80 transmits the control signals, status signals, datasignals, and so on between the digital camera 100 and the lens unit 300,and has a function for supplying power from the digital camera 100 tothe lens unit 300.

Next, the lens unit 300 will be explained.

The lens unit 300 includes an image pickup lenS301 consisting of aplurality of lenses such as a focus lens that can be shifted along anoptical axis direction for focus adjustment and a zoom lens that can beshifted along an optical axis direction for zooming. The lens unit 300also includes a diaphragm 302 for controlling an aperture to adjust alight amount to the image pickup unit 22 in the digital camera 100.

A lens control unit 303 includes a CPU as a computer and controls anentire lens unit 300 according to control signals from the systemcontrol unit 50 in the digital camera 100, and controls driving of thefocus lens and the zoom lens of the image pickup lenS301, and thediaphragm 302.

The lens control unit 303 also includes a memory for storing operationparameters, operation constants, computer programs and so on.

The lens control unit 303 also includes a nonvolatile memory that storesID information such as inherent ID number of the lens unit 300,management information, lens property information such as an openaperture value, a minimum aperture value, a focal length value, anaberration value of distortion, a history of setting values, and so on.

A connector 304 includes electrical contacts for electrically connectsthe lens unit 300 with the main body of the digital camera 100 andtransmits the control signals, status signals, data signals, and so onwith the digital camera 100, and has a function for receiving power fromthe digital camera 100.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processingapparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating anotheroperation of the image processing apparatus in Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is aflowchart illustrating further operation of the image processingapparatus in Embodiment 1.

When a user selects the still image photography mode or the movie imagephotography mode by operating the mode switch 60, the digital camera 100starts one of the selected photography modes and thereby startsperforming the process illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4.

The process flows illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 are performed by thesystem control unit 50 by reading out the predetermined computerprograms from the nonvolatile memory 52, by expanding the program in thesystem memory 56, and by controlling operations or processes of eachunit included in the digital camera 100.

In a step S101, the system control unit 50 reads out the priority objectsetting, which was set by a user using the menu selection displayed onthe display screen, from the system memory 56, determines a category ofthe main object, and proceeds to step S102.

As explained in the above, in the priority object setting, users can setthe category of the priority object, for example, to a first categoryusing the menu displayed on the display screen, so that objectsbelonging to the first category are detected as the main objects on apriority basis.

In that case, the system control unit 50 functions as the setting unitfor setting the category for the priority object to the first category,so that the object detection unit 26 detects object of the firstcategory among at least two categories on a priority basis.

That is, when objects of the first category are detected by the objectdetection unit 26, the objects of the first category are automaticallyrecognized as the main object and the focus adjustment and the exposureadjustment for the main objects are performed on a priority basis.

In the process the system control unit 50 functions as the adjustingunit for performing the focus adjustment and/or the exposure adjustmentfor the main object (priority object).

That is, in a case where a category “human” has been set as the priorityobject, human regions become main objects on the display screen, and ina case where a category “animal” has been set as the priority object,animal regions become main objects on the display screen.

Although in the present Embodiment, the digital camera 100 can detectobjects of two categories such as “human” and “animal”, and users canset the priority category from one of the two categories such as “human”and “animal”, the digital camera 100 may detect more than twocategories.

In a step S102, the system control unit 50 reads out an image signal ofone frame from the image pickup unit 22, performs processes such as awhite balance adjustment, a pixel interpolation, and so on to the imagesignal by using the image processing unit 24, and then stores processedimage data in the memory 32.

Furthermore, the processed image data, which was processed by the imageprocessing unit 24, is read out from the memory 32, is resized and so onto produce an image data for live view, and is stored again in thememory 32, while being displayed on the display unit 28.

In a step S103, the system control unit 50 reads out the image datagenerated in the step S102 from the memory 32, thereby the objectdetection unit 26 detects objects in the image data.

In the present Embodiment, the object detection unit 26 can detectobjects of a plurality of categories such as humans, dogs, cats, birds,and so on without regard to the priority object setting.

In addition, the object detection unit 26 can detect a part of them suchas faces, bodies, and so on as well.

The object detection unit 26 may be configured to detect only objects ofthe category set by the priority object setting as described in detailin the Embodiment 2.

In this connection, the object region detected by the object detectionunit 26 in the step S103 is dubbed as an object detection region.

In the present Embodiment, although a plurality of object detectionregions of different categories detected by the object detection unit26, main object frames are additionally displayed on the display unit 28with respect to only objects of the first category, which has been setby the priority object setting.

In this connection, with respect to all the object detection region ofdifferent categories detected by the object detection unit 26, marks orframes may be respectively displayed with those objects so that userscan recognize which objects are detected.

In the above case where all the object detection regions of differentcategories detected by the object detection unit 26 are additionallydisplayed with marks or object frames respectively, the object framesfor the main objects of the first category, which has been set by thepriority object setting, may be differently displayed from other objectframes, for example, by setting color or line width of the object framefor the main objects different from the other objects.

In this way, in the present Embodiment, the display unit 28 functionsfor differently displaying the object region corresponding to thecategory set by the priority object setting.

In a step S104, it is determined whether or not any main object regionby user's selection exists in previous image frames.

If a result of the determination in the step S104 is “Yes”, the processin the system control unit 50 (hereinafter, referred to as the processflow) proceeds to a step S105 in FIG. 3.

If the result of the determination in the step S104 is “No”, the processflow proceeds to a step S110 in FIG. 2.

In this connection, the “main object region by user's selection” meansthat the main object region selected, for example, by user's touchoperation on an intended position of an object detection region on thedisplay screen and so on in order to set an intended object as the mainobject region by the user.

In a step S110, it is determined whether the touch tracking is beingcarried out or not, wherein the “touch tracking” means a trackingoperation that is started in response to user's touch operation on anintended object on the display screen, in which a touched object is setas the main object region to be tracked, and that is described in detailwith regard to a step S123.

If it is determined in the step S110 that the “touch tracking” is notbeing carried out (“No” in the step S110), the process flow proceeds toa step S111, and if it is determined in the step S110 that the “touchtracking” is being carried out (“Yes” in the step S110), the processflow proceeds to a step S114.

In the step S111, it is determined whether or not the object whosecategory is the same as the category set by the priority object settingis detected in the object detection performed in the step S103.

That is, if “human” is set in the priority object setting, it isdetermined in the step S111 whether a human is detected or not, and if“animal” is set in the priority object setting, it is determined in thestep S111 whether an animal is detected or not.

If it is determined in the step S111 that objects of the category set inthe priority object setting are detected (“Yes” in the step S111), theprocess flow proceeds to a step S112.

If it is determined in the step S111 that objects of the category set inthe priority object setting are not detected (“No” in the step S111),the process flow proceeds to a step S113.

In the step S112, the main object region is selected based on a resultof the object detection in the step S103 and the position and the sizeof the main object region are renewed.

In addition, the position and size of the object frame, which isdisplayed on the display screen of the display unit 28 in an automaticselection condition for indicating the main object region, are alsorenewed.

In the step S113, since it is determined in the step S111 that objectsof the category set in the priority object setting are not detected, theposition and the size of the main object region are reset to 0, and theobject frame for indicating the main object region in the automaticselection condition is renewed to disappear.

A process flow from the step S111 to the step S113 corresponds to anautomatic selection process by the digital camera 100 for the mainobject and thereby objects whose category is set in the priority objectsetting are automatically selected and the object frames for indicatingthe main object regions are displayed.

On the contrary, in the step S114, the system control unit 50 determineswhether the “touch tracking” started in the step S123 can be continuedor not.

In this regard, the feature values such as the color information, theluminance information, and so on extracted from the reference image (themain object region in a previous image frame) by the image processingunit 24 are compared with the feature values extracted from the mainobject region in a current image frame, and the system control unit 50determines that the touch tracking started in the step S123 can becontinued if the difference between them is smaller than a predeterminedvalue.

If the system control unit 50 determines that the touch tracking startedin the step S123 can be continued (“Yes” in the step S114), the processflow proceeds to a step S115, while if the system control unit 50determines that the touch tracking started in the step S123 cannot becontinued (“No” in the step S114), the process flow proceeds to a stepS116.

In the step S115, based on the feature values such as the colorinformation, the luminance information, and so on extracted from thereference image (the main object region in a previous image frame) bythe image processing unit 24, the position and the size of the mainobject region, which is being tracked by the “touch tracking”, arerenewed.

In addition, the position and the size of the object frame forindicating the main object region, which is displayed on the displayscreen of the display unit 28, are also renewed, and the process flowproceeds to a step S117 in FIG. 4.

In the step S116, the system control unit 50 stops the “touch tracking”,resets the position and the size of the main object region to 0, renewsthe object frame for indicating the main object region in the automaticselection condition to disappear, and proceeds to the step S117 in FIG.4.

As mentioned in the above, when the result of the determination in thestep S104 is “Yes”, the process flow proceeds to the step S105 in FIG.3.

In the step S105, it is determined whether the main object designated ina step S119 or a step S122 by user's touch on the display screen inprevious image frames is detected in the current image frame by theobject detection process in the step S103.

If it is determined that the main object designated by user's touch onthe display screen in previous image frames is detected in the currentimage frame by the object detection process (“Yes” in the step S105),the process flow proceeds to a step S106.

On the contrary, if it is determined that the object of the main objectregion designated by user's touch on the display screen in previousimage frames is not detected in the current image frame by the objectdetection process (“No” in the step S105), the process flow proceeds toa step S107.

In the step S106, based on a result of the object detection in the stepS103, the position and the size of the main object region, which isdesignated by user's touch on the display screen and so on, are renewed.

In addition, the position and the size of the object frame forindicating the main object region, which is displayed on the displayscreen of the display unit 28, are also renewed, and the process flowproceeds to the step S117 in FIG. 4.

In the step S107, it is determined that the main object designated bythe user's touch on the display screen is lost, the position and thesize of the main object region are reset to 0, and the object frame forindicating the main object region is renewed to disappear, and theprocess flow proceeds to a step S108.

In the step S108, it is determined whether the priority object settinghas been temporarily changed in a step S121 in previous image frames ornot.

If it is determined that the priority object setting has beentemporarily changed (“Yes” in the step S108), the process flow proceedsto a step S109, and if it is determined that the priority object settinghas not been temporarily changed (“No” in the step S108), the processflow proceeds to the step S117 in FIG. 4.

In a step S109, the system control unit 50 reads out the priority objectsetting, which has been temporarily set in the step S121 in previousimage frames and which was saved in the system memory 56, restores thepriority object setting set in the step S121, and proceeds to the stepS117 in FIG. 4.

That is, in the step S109, in a case where the category of the priorityobject is changed to the second category, for example, by user's touchon the display screen, and if the main object of the second category islost, then the category of the priority object of the priority objectsetting is restored to the first category.

In the step S117 in FIG. 4, it is determined whether an intended mainobject is designated by user's touch on the display screen or not.

If it is determined that the intended main object is designated byuser's touch on the display screen (“Yes” in the step S117), the processflow proceeds to a step S118, and if it is determined that the intendedmain object is not designated by user's touch on the display screen(“No” in the step S117), the process flow proceeds to a step S124.

In the step S118, it is determined whether or not the object regionwhose category is the same as the category (the first category) set bythe priority object setting is designated by user's touch and so on fromobjects of plurality of categories detected in the object detection inthe step S103.

That is, for example, if the priority object setting is “human”, it isdetermined whether or not the human detection region is designated byuser's touch on the display screen and so on, and if the priority objectsetting is “animal”, it is determined whether or not the animaldetection region is designated by user's touch on the display screen andso on.

If it is determined that the object region whose category is the same asthe category (the first category) set by the priority object setting isdesignated by user's touch and so on (“Yes” in the step S118), theprocess flow proceeds to the step S119.

That is, if the priority object setting is “human”, and if it isdetermined that the human detection region is designated by user's touchon the display screen and so on, or if the priority object setting is“animal”, and if it is determined that the animal detection region isdesignated by user's touch on the display screen and so on, then theprocess flow proceeds to the step S119.

On the contrary, if it is determined that the object region whosecategory is the same as the category (the first category) set by thepriority object setting is not designated by user's touch and so on(“No” in the step S118), the process flow proceeds to a step S120.

That is, for example, if the priority object setting is “human”, and ifit is determined that the human detection region is not designated byuser's touch on the display screen and so on, or if the priority objectsetting is “animal”, and if it is determined that the animal detectionregion is not designated by user's touch on the display screen and soon, then the process flow proceeds to the step S120.

In the step S119, an object detection region of the object designated byuser's touch on the display screen and so on, of which category is thesame as the category set by the priority object setting, is determinedas a “user selection main object region”, and the process flow proceedsto the step S124.

In this connection, in a case where the user designates the main objectby touching the object on the display screen and so on, it is made moredifficult to change the main object region to the other detection regionthan in a case where the main object region is selected by the automaticselection, whose process was illustrated in the step S111 to the stepS113.

This is because that since a user intentionally designates the mainobject region by touching the display screen and so on, consideringuser's intention, the main object designated by the user should bemaintained for a longer period.

In the step S120, it is determined whether or not the category of theobject detection region designated by the user's touch on the displayscreen and so on, which is among object detection regions detected inthe step S103, is different from the category set in the priority objectsetting.

That is, for example, if the priority object setting is “human”, it isdetermined whether or not the category of the object detection regiondesignated by the user's touch on the display screen and so on, is“animal” or a category other than “human”, or if the priority objectsetting is “animal”, it is determined whether or not the category of theobject detection region designated by the user's touch and so on, is“human” or a category other than “animal”.

If it is determined that the category (the second category) of theobject detection region designated by the user's touch on the displayscreen and so on is different from the category (the first category) setin the priority object setting (“Yes” in the step S120), the processflow proceeds to the step S121.

That is, if the priority object setting is “human”, and if it isdetermined that the category of the object detection region designatedby the user's touch on the display screen and so on, is “animal” or acategory other than “human”, the process flow proceeds to the step S121.

Or, if the priority object setting is “animal”, and if it is determinedthat the category of the object detection region designated by theuser's touch and so on, is “human” or a category other than “animal”,the process flow proceeds to the step S121.

On the contrary, if it is determined that the category of the objectdetection region designated by the user's touch on the display screenand so on is not different from the category set in the priority objectsetting (“No” in the step S120), the process flow proceeds to the stepS123.

That is, if the category of the object detection region designated bythe user's touch on the display screen and so on is not an animal nor ahuman despite the category set in the priority object setting, theprocess flow proceeds to the step S123.

Or, if the object detection region designated by the user's touch on thedisplay screen and so on is not the objects detection regions detectedin the step S103, which means that the touched position is not theobject positions detected in the step S103, the process flow proceeds tothe step S123.

In the step S121, the system control unit 50 temporarily saves thecategory (the first category), which was set in advance in the priorityobject setting, in a predetermined region in the system memory 56, andchanges category (the first category) set by the priority object settingto the category (the second category) corresponding to the objectdesignated by user's touch on the display screen and so on.

That is, if the priority object setting is “human”, and if an animal isdesignated by touching the display screen and so on, the setting of“human” is saved and the priority object setting is temporarily changedto “animal”.

And, if the priority object setting is “animal”, and if a human isdesignated by touching the display screen and so on, the setting of“animal” is saved and the priority object setting is temporarily changedto “human”.

In the step S122, the object detection region designated by user's touchon the display screen and so on is indicated as the “user selection mainobject region” by using the main object frame, and the process flowproceeds to the step S124.

That is, the object detection region corresponding to the objects whosecategory is temporarily changed in the step S121 is regarded as the mainobject region and is made an “arbitral selection condition”, and theprocess flow proceeds to the step S124.

In step S123, the image data of the object region designated by user'stouch on the display screen is set as a reference image by the imageprocessing unit 24, and the “touch tracking”, which is the tracking ofthe main object designated by user's touch on the display screen and soon, is started based on the feature values such as the color informationand the luminance information and so on extracted from the image data ofthe object region, then the process flow proceeds to the step S124.

In this regard, the touch tracking means the tracking of the main objectwhich is designated by user's touch on the display screen and so on, andwhose category does not exist in the menu on the display screen, whereinthe touch tracking is performed by the image processing unit 24.

In the step S124, it is determined whether or not a photographyoperation is instructed by user's pressing of the shutter release button61 or an operation of the movie image taking button in the operationunit 70.

If it is determined that the photography operation is instructed (“Yes”in the step S124), the process flow proceeds to the step S125.

On the contrary, if it is determined that the photography operation isnot instructed (“No” in the step S124), the process flow returns to thestep S102 and starts processing a next image frame.

In the step S125, a photographing process for a still image or a movieimage is performed.

In the photographing process, the system control unit 50 reads out theimage data captured by the image pickup unit 22, controls the imageprocessing unit 24 to process the image data so as to be developed andcompressed, and stores the processed image data in the storage unit 200via the I/F 18.

In a step S126, it is determined whether the priority object setting hasbeen temporarily changed or not in the step S121.

If “Yes” in the step S126, the process flow proceeds to a step S127 andif “No” in the step S126, the process flow returns to the step S102 andstarts processing a next image frame.

In the step S127, previous priority object setting (the first category)temporarily saved in the predetermined region of the system memory 56 inthe step S121 is discarded and the priority object setting (the secondcategory), to which the setting has been temporarily changed, is set asan initial value.

That is, the category of the priority object in the following imageframes is determined based on the initial value, then the process flowreturns to the step S102 and starts processing the next image frame.

Then, referring to FIG. 5, the display screen of the display unit 28 andthe object frames of the main object regions according to Embodiment 1will be described.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams illustrating examples of a displayscreen in Embodiment 1. FIG. 5A illustrates an example of the displayscreen when the priority object setting is “human”, FIG. 5B illustratesan example of the display screen when the priority object setting is“human” as shown in FIG. 5A and a user is touching an animal (dog) onthe screen. FIG. 5C illustrates an example of the display screen afterthe user touched an animal (dog) on the screen.

In FIG. 5A, 501 denotes a display screen on the display unit 28 when thepriority object setting is “human”.

Since the priority object setting is “human”, when it is determinedwhether a human is detected or not in the step S111. Then, if a human isnot detected in FIG. 5A, the object frame for indicating the main objectis not displayed on the display screen 501 in the step S113 as shown inFIG. 5A.

Then, in FIG. 5B, it is illustrated that an animal (a dog) is designatedby user's touch on the display screen 502 after a display state in FIG.5A.

In FIG. 5C, 503 denotes a display screen on the display unit 28 after adisplay state in FIG. 5B.

Since the category (“animal”) of the object detection region touched bya user in FIG. 5B is different from the category (“human”) set by thepriority object setting, the priority object setting is temporarilychanged from “human” to “animal” in the step S121, and the object frame504 indicating the “user selection main object” is displayed on theobject detection region of the dog in the step S122.

In addition, the focus adjustment and the exposure adjustment areperformed on a priority basis for the image in the main object frame

As explained in the above, the system control unit 50 functions as asetting unit for setting a first category as a priority category on anobject having a predetermined priority among objects detected by theobject detection unit by using, for example, the menu on the displayscreen and so on.

In addition, the system control unit 50 changes the priority categoryfrom the first category to a second category different from the firstcategory in a case where an intended object region of the object isdesignated, for example, by user's touch on the display screen and soon, and in a case where the category of the intended object region isthe second category.

Thus, without troublesome operations such as opening a setting menu onthe display screen each time when changing the category for the mainobject, the category of the priority object setting can be quicklychanged during displaying the live view images, so that the category ofan intended main object can be easily and smoothly changed.

In addition, in a case where the main object whose category wastemporarily changed to the second category is lost in the image, thenprevious category (the first category) of the priority object settingcan be easily restored.

Embodiment 2

Hereinafter, the Embodiment 2 will be described.

Although in Embodiment 1, in a case where an intended object whosecategory (the second category) is different from the category (the firstcategory) set by the priority object setting is touched on the displayscreen, the category (the first category) of the priority object settingis temporarily changed to a different category (the second category), sothat the intended object of the second category is temporarily set asthe main object. In addition, if the intended object of the secondcategory is lost on the display screen, then previous category (thefirst category) of the priority object setting is restored.

Contrary to the Embodiment 1, in Embodiment 2, if the intended object ofthe second category, which was temporarily changed, is lost on thedisplay screen, tracking operation is started based on feature valuessuch as the color information and the luminance information and so on ofthe object region in a previous object detection position and if thetracking cannot be continued, then the category (the second category) ofthe priority object setting is changed to the previous setting.

By this way, in a case where an intended object whose category isdifferent from the category set in the priority object setting isdesignated by user's touch on the display screen, the intended objectcan be temporarily set as the main object, by changing the category ofthe priority object setting, for a longer period than in Embodiment 1.

FIGS. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processingapparatus in Embodiment 2. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating anotheroperation of the image processing apparatus in Embodiment 2. FIG. 8 is aflowchart illustrating further operation of the image processingapparatus in Embodiment 2. In each drawing, the same reference numeralsare given to the same processes and repeated description will beomitted.

When a user selects the still image photography mode or the movie imagephotography mode by using the mode switch 60, the digital camera 100starts the photography mode and processes in FIG. 6 are performed.

The process flows illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 are performed by thesystem control unit 50 by reading out the predetermined programs fromthe nonvolatile memory 52, by expanding the program in the system memory56, and by controlling operations or processes of each unit included inthe digital camera 100.

Steps S201 to S202 are respectively the same as the steps S101 to S102in Embodiment 1, so that repeated descriptions of them will be omitted.

In a step S203, a live image data generated in the step S202 is read outfrom the memory 32, is processed by the object detection to detectobjects, and then the process flow proceeds to a step S204.

At that time, objects whose category is set by the priority objectsetting in the object detection unit 26 is exclusively detected.

For example, if the priority object setting is “human”, humans areexclusively detected, and if the priority object setting is “animal”,animals are exclusively detected in Embodiment 2, in contrast toEmbodiment 1, wherein objects of a plurality of detectable categoriesare detected despite the priority object setting.

Therefore, the digital camera 100 according to Embodiment 2 can reduceprocessing loads and power consumption, and can use the object detectionunit 26 that cannot detect a plurality of categories at the same time.

Steps S204 to S206 are respectively the same as the steps S104 to S106in Embodiment 1, so that repeated description of them will be omitted.

In a step S207, it is determined whether the “user selection main objecttracking” has been performed in a previous image frame or not, whereinthe “user selection main object tracking” means a tracking operationthat starts tracking in a step S208, which will be described below, byusing the “user selection main object region” as a reference image.

If “No” in the step S207, the process flow proceeds to the step S208,and if “Yes” in the step S207, the process flow proceeds to a step S209.

In the step S208, since the “user selection main object” is not detectedin the step S205, the “user selection main object region” that has beendetected immediately before a current image frame is set as thereference image , so that the “user selection main object tracking” isstarted using the reference image, and the process flow proceeds to astep S221.

In a step S209, it is determined whether the “user selection main objecttracking”, which has been started immediately before the current imageframe, can be continued or not.

In this regard, the determination whether or not the “user selectionmain object tracking” can be continued is performed based on whether ornot there is a correlation more than a predetermined value between thefeature value such as the color information and the luminanceinformation and so on extracted from the image data of the “userselection main object”, which is set as the reference image data by theimage processing unit 24, and the feature value extracted from thecurrent image frame.

If it is determined that the “user selection main object tracking” canbe continued (“Yes” in the step S209), the process flow proceeds to astep S210, and if it is determined that the “user selection main objecttracking” cannot be continued (“No” in the step S209), the process flowproceeds to a step S211.

In step S210, the position and the size of the “user selection mainobject region” during the “user selection main object tracking” isrenewed based on the feature values such as the color information andthe luminance information and so on extracted from the image data by theimage processing unit 24.

In addition, the position and the size of the object frame displayed onthe display screen for indicating the main object region during the“user selection main object tracking” is renewed, and the process flowproceeds to a step S221.

Steps S211 to S223 are respectively the same as the steps S107 to S119in Embodiment 1, so that repeated description of them will be omitted.

In a step S224 in FIG. 8, as the live view image data generated in thestep S202 is read out from the memory 32, the object detection unit 26starts performing a “non-priority object detection”, in which objects ofthe category (the second category) that is different from the category(the first category) set in advance by the priority object setting isdetected, and the process flow proceeds to a step S225.

That is, for example, if the priority object setting is “human”,detection of objects of the category such as “animal” or other categorydifferent from “human” is started, and if the priority object setting is“animal”, detection of objects of the category such as “human” or othercategory different from “animal” is started.

In the step S225, it is determined whether a non-priority object isdetected or not in the “non-priority object detection” performed in thestep S224.

That is, if the priority object setting is “human”, it is determinedwhether or not objects of the category such as “animal” or othercategory different from “human” is detected, and if the priority objectsetting is “animal”, it is determined whether or not objects of thecategory such as “human” or other category different from “animal” isdetected.

If it is determined that the non-priority object is detected (“Yes” inthe step S225), the process flow proceeds to a step S226. That is, ifthe priority object setting is “human”, and if it is determined thatobjects of the category such as “animal” or other category differentfrom “human” is detected, the process flow proceeds to a step S226.

And if the priority object setting is “animal”, and if it is determinedthat objects of the category such as “human” or other category differentfrom “animal” is detected, the process flow proceeds to a step S226.

On the contrary, if it is determined that the non-priority object is notdetected (“No” in the step S225), the process flow proceeds to a stepS229.

In the step S226, it is determined whether or not an object detectionregion of the non-priority object, whose category is not the firstcategory, is designated by user's touch on the display screen and so on.

That is, if the priority object setting is “human”, it is determinedwhether or not objects of the category such as “animal” or othercategory different from “human” is detected, and if the priority objectsetting is “animal”, it is determined whether or not objects of thecategory such as “human” or other category different from “animal” isdetected.

Steps S227 to S233 are respectively the same as the steps S121 to S127in Embodiment 1, so that repeated description of them will be omitted.

Thus, also in Embodiment 2, when a user wants to set an intended object,of which category is different from the category set by the priorityobject setting, as the main object, the category of the intended objectcan be quickly changed by temporarily changing the priority objectsetting in response to user's touch on the intended object displayed onthe display screen. Therefore, the intended object can be easily changedto the main object.

Therefore, without troublesome operations such as opening a setting menuon the display screen each time when changing the category for the mainobject, the category of the priority object setting can be quicklychanged during displaying the live view images, so that the category ofan intended object can be easily changed to the main object.

In addition, in Embodiment 2, if the intended object of the secondcategory, which was temporarily changed, is lost on the display screen,since tracking operation is started based on feature values such as thecolor information and the luminance information and so on, the intendedobject can be maintained as the main object for a longer period than inEmbodiment 1.

Furthermore, by automatically restoring the previous setting if continuetracking cannot be continued, the priority object setting can be easilychanged to the previous setting.

In addition, since objects whose category (the first category) is thesame as the category (the first category) set by the priority objectsetting in the object detection unit 26 is exclusively detected, thedigital camera 100 according to Embodiment 2 can reduce processing loadsand power consumption, and can use the object detection unit 26 thatcannot detect a plurality of categories at the same time.

Embodiment 3

Hereinafter, the image processing apparatus according to Embodiment 3will be described.

In Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, when the non-priority object istouched on the display screen touch and so on, the priority objectsetting is temporarily changed, so that the main object can be changed.

In contrast, in the present Embodiment 3, by setting a focus detectionframe corresponding to a focus detection region on the non-priorityobject and by pressing the first shutter release switch 62 to start thefocus detection, the priority object setting is changed, and thenon-priority object can be set as the main object.

By this way, like Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, without troublesomeoperations such as opening a setting menu on the display screen eachtime when changing the category for the main object, the category of thepriority object setting can be quickly changed during displaying thelive view images, so that the category of an intended object can beeasily changed to the main object.

In addition, when pressing of the first shutter release switch 62 isstopped, the temporarily changed priority object setting is restored.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts illustrating operations of the imageprocessing apparatus in Embodiment 3.

When a user selects one of the still image photography mode and themovie image photography mode by using the mode switch 60, the digitalcamera 100 stars the photography mode and processes in FIG. 9 areexecuted.

The process flows illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 are performed by thesystem control unit 50 by reading out the predetermined programs fromthe nonvolatile memory 52, by expanding the program in the system memory56, and by controlling operations or processes of each unit included inthe digital camera 100.

In a step S301, the priority object setting set in advance by the useris read out from the system memory 56, so that the category of the mainobject is determined, then the process flow proceeds to a step S302.

As to the priority object setting, refer to the previous explanation inEmbodiment 1.

In a step S302, image data is read out from the image pickup unit 22,then is processed in the image processing unit 24, so that image dataprocessed by the white balance process and pixel interpolation processand so on is generated and stored in the memory 32.

Subsequently, the image data processed by the image processing unit 24is read out from the memory 32 and is resized and so on to be convertedinto image data for live view.

Then, the image data is written into the memory 32 while being suppliedto the display unit 28, so that the live view images are renewed, andthen the process flow proceeds to a step 303.

In the step S303, the image data generated in the step 302 is read outfrom the memory 32, then is processed for detecting objects by theobject detection unit 26.

In this regard, despite the priority object setting in the objectdetection unit 26, objects of all the detectable category are detected,so that humans, animals such as dogs, cats, or birds, and faces or bodyof them can be detected.

In the step S304, it is determined whether or not there is a main objectregion designated by user's touch on the display screen and so on. If itis determined that there is a main object region designated by user'stouch on the display screen and so on (“Yes” in the step S304), theprocess flow proceeds to a step S305.

On the contrary, if it is determined that there is not a main objectregion designated by user's touch on the display screen and so on (“No”in the step S304), the process flow proceeds to a step S310.

In this regard, it is determined that there is a main object regiondesignated by user's touch on the display screen and so on, when a userdesignates a main object region by setting a focus detection framecorresponding to a focus detection region on the non-priority object andstarts the focus detection, which will be explained below with regard tosteps S315 and S318.

In this way, in Embodiment 2, an object region is designate by settingthe focus detection region on the display screen.

In a case where the user directly designates the main object on thedisplay screen, the main object region is not as easily changed to theother detection regions as in an automatic selection mode, where thedigital camera 100 automatically selects the main object region, so thatthe same main object region can be maintained for a longer period inconsideration of user's intention.

The automatic selection mode will be explained below with respect tosteps S310 to S312,

In the step S305, it is determined whether the object designated byuser's touch on the display screen has been detected in the objectdetection in the step S303 or not. And, if “Yes” in the step S305, theprocess flow proceeds to a step S306 and if “No” in the step S305, theprocess flow proceeds to a step S307.

In the step S306, based on a result of object detection in the stepS303, the position and the size of the main object region that isdesignated by user's direct touch on the display screen are renewed.

In addition, the position and the size of the object frame displayed onthe display screen for indicating the main object region that isdesignated by user's direct touch on the display screen are alsorenewed.

In the step S307, as it is determined that the main object designated byuser's direct touch on the display screen is lost in the display screen,the position and the size of the main object region are renewed todisappear.

In addition, the object frame for indicating the main object regiondesignated by user's direct touch on the display screen is turned off,then plural focus frames may be displayed instead as is the case wherethe main object is not detected, and the process flow proceeds to thestep S308.

In the step S308, it is determined whether or not the priority objectsetting has been temporarily changed in response to user's focusdetection instruction in a step S317, which will be explained in detailbelow.

If it is determined that the priority object setting has beentemporarily changed (“Yes” in the step S308), the process flow proceedsto the step S309, and if it is determined that the priority objectsetting has not been temporarily changed (“No” in the step S308), theprocess flow proceeds to a step S313.

In the step S309, the priority object setting that has been temporarilychanged in a step S317, which will be explained below, is read out fromthe system memory 56, is restored to the previous setting, and then theprocess flow proceeds to the step S313.

In the step S310, it is determined whether or not the object whosecategory is the same as the category set by the priority object settingis detected in the object detection performed in the step S303.

That is, if the priority object setting is “human”, it is determinedwhether objects of the category “human” is detected or not, and if thepriority object setting is “animal”, it is determined whether objects ofthe category “animal” is detected or not.

If “Yes” in the steps S310, the process flow proceeds to the step S313,and “No” in the steps S310, the process flow proceeds to the step S312.

In the step S311, the main object region is selected based on a resultof the object detection performed in the step S303, and the position andthe size of the main object region are renewed.

In addition, the position and the size of the object frame, which isdisplayed on the display screen of the display unit 28 in an automaticselection condition for indicating the main object region, are alsorenewed, then the process flow proceeds to the step S313.

In step S312, it is determined that the main object whose category isthe same as the category set by the priority object setting is notdetected, and the position and the size of the main object region isreset to 0, and the object frame, which is displayed on the displayscreen of the display unit 28 in an automatic selection condition forindicating the main object region, is renewed to disappear, then theprocess flow proceeds to the step S313.

Steps S310 to S312 correspond to an automatic selection process in thedigital camera 100 for selecting the main object, in which an optimumobject is automatically selected from objects whose category has beenset by the priority object setting and an object frame indicating themain object region selected by the automatic selection is displayed.

In the step S313 in FIG. 10, it is determined whether or not aninstruction to start the focus detection in response to user's pressingof the first shutter release switch 62 is detected. If “Yes” in the stepS313, the process flow proceeds to the step S314, and if “No” in thestep S313, the process flow proceeds to the step S320.

That is, by operating a predetermined operation member after the focusdetection region on the display screen is set, the designation of theobject region is finally determined.

In the step S314, it is determined whether or not the focus detectionframe that indicates a starting position of the focus detection isoverlapping with the object detection region of the object whosecategory is the same as the category set in the priority object setting,among object detection regions detected in the step S303.

That is, if the priority object setting is “human”, it is determinedwhether the focus detection frame overlaps with the human detectionregion or not, and if the priority object setting is “animal”, it isdetermined whether the focus detection frame overlaps with the animaldetection region or not.

If “Yes” in the step S314, the process flow proceeds to the step S315,and if “No” in the step S314, the process flow proceeds to the stepS316.

In the step S315, the object detection region of the object whosecategory is the same as the category (the first category) set by thepriority object setting, and which is overlapping with the focusdetection frame indicating the starting position of the focus detection,is set as the “user selection main object region”, then the process flowproceeds to the step S320.

In the step S316, it is determined whether or not the focus detectionframe that indicates a starting position of the focus detection isoverlapping with the object detection region of the non-priority object,whose category is not the first category, among object detection regionsdetected by the object detection in the step S303.

That is, if the priority object setting is “human”, it is determinedwhether or not the focus detection frame overlaps with the objectdetection region whose category is “animal” or categories other than“human”, or if the priority object setting is “animal”, it is determinedwhether or not the focus detection frame overlaps with the objectdetection region whose category is “human” or categories other than“animal”.

If the focus detection frame overlaps with the object detection regionof the non-priority object (“Yes” in the step S316), the process flowproceeds to the step S317.

That is, if the priority object setting is “human”, and if it isdetermined that the focus detection frame overlaps with the objectdetection region whose category is “animal” or categories other than“human”, the process flow proceeds to the step S317.

Or, if the priority object setting is “animal”, and if it is determinedthat the focus detection frame overlaps with the object detection regionwhose category is “human” or categories other than “animal”, the processflow proceeds to the step S317.

On the contrary, if it is determined that the focus detection frame doesnot overlap with the object detection region of the non-priority object(“No” in the step S316), the process flow proceeds to the step S319.

That is, despite the priority object setting, if it is determined thatthe focus detection frame is overlapping with the object detectionregion of the object whose category is not any of “human” and “animal”,which are categories of the object detection regions detected in theobject detection process in the step S303, the process flow proceeds tothe step S319.

Or, if it is determined that the focus detection frame is overlappingwith the region where detected objects do not exist, the process flowproceeds to the step S319.

In the step S317, the priority object setting (the first category) setin advance is saved in a predetermine region in the system memory 56,and the category (the first category) set in the priority object settingis temporarily changed to a different category (the second category),then the process flow proceeds to the step S318.

That is, if the priority object setting is “human”, and if the focusdetection is started with the focus detection frame overlapping with“animal”, the setting “human” is saved in the system memory 56 and thepriority object setting is temporarily changed to “animal”, or if thepriority object setting is “animal”, and if the focus detection isstarted with the focus detection frame overlapping with “human”, thesetting “animal” is saved in the system memory 56 and the priorityobject setting is temporarily changed to “human”.

In step S318, the object detection region of the non-priority objectoverlapping with the focus detection frame is set as the “user selectionmain object region”, and the process flow proceeds to the step S320.

That is, the object detection region that corresponds to the priorityobject setting temporarily changed in the step S317 is set as the mainobject region, which is as the “arbitral selection condition”, theprocess flow proceeds to the step S320.

In the step S319, since the region with which the focus detection frameis overlapping does not include objects detection region, plural focusdetection frames are displayed as in a case where no object is detected,and the process flow proceeds to the step S320. In that case, the focusadjustment and the exposure adjustment are performed with regard to theplural focus detection frames.

In the step S320, it is determined whether the first shutter releaseswitch 62 is still being pressed by the user or not, and if “Yes”, theprocess flow proceeds to the step S323, and if “No”, the process flowproceeds to the step S321.

In the step S321, it is determined whether or not the priority objectsetting has been temporarily changed in the step S317 in response touser's instruction to start the focus detection in an image frameimmediately before the current image frame, and if “Yes” in the stepS321, the process proceeds to a step S322, and if “No” in the step S321,the process proceeds to a step S323.

In the step S322, the priority object setting temporarily changed andsaved in the system memory 56 is read out and restored, and the processproceeds to the step S323.

In the step S323, it is determined whether or not the start of thephotography is instructed by user's operation, for example, of theshutter release button 61 or the movie image photography button of theoperation unit 70.

If “Yes” in the step S323, the process proceeds to a step S324, and if“No” in the step S323, the process returns to a step S302, andprocessing of next image frames is started.

In the step S324, a photography process such as the still imagephotography or the movie image photography is carried out, then theprocess proceeds to a step S325.

In the photography process, image data captured by the image pickup unit22 is read out and is processed by the image processing unit 24 so as tobe developed and compressed and so on, then is stored in the storageunit 200 via the I/F 18.

In the step S325, in response to the use's instruction to start focusdetection, it is determined whether or not the priority object settingis temporarily changed in the step S317, and if “Yes” in the step S325,the process flow proceeds to a step S326, and if “No” in the step S325,the process flow returns to the step S302, and processing of next imageframes is started.

In the step S326, the previous priority object setting stored in thesystem memory 56 in the step S317 is discarded, and the priority objectsetting temporarily changed before is stored as a user setting, theprocess flow returns to the step S302, and processing of next imageframes is started.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating examples of the displayscreen in Embodiment 3. FIG. 11A illustrates an example of the displayscreen when the priority object setting is “human”, FIG. 11B illustratesan example of the display screen when a user presses a first shutterrelease button 62 to start a focus detection operation.

401 in FIG. 11A denotes an display screen on the display unit 28 whenthe priority object setting is “human”, in a dog is displayed on thedisplay screen.

Since the priority object setting is “human”, it is determined whetheror not “human” is detected in the step S310. However, as “human” is notdetected in the display screen 401, the object frame indicating the mainobject is not displayed on the display screen in the step S312, whilethe focus detection frame 402 that indicates a starting position of thefocus detection is manually or automatically displayed on the displayscreen 401.

404 in FIG. 11B denotes a display screen on the display unit 28 when auser presses the first shutter release switch 62 to start a focusdetection operation.

As illustrated in FIG. 11A, the focus detection frame 402 that indicatesa starting position of the focus detection is displayed on an objectdetection region of an object whose category is “animal”, which isdifferent from the category “human” set in the priority object setting.

In this state, if the first shutter release switch 62 is depressed, thepriority object setting is temporarily changed from “human” to “animal”in the step S317, and an object frame 404 for the “user selection mainobject” is displayed on the object whose category is “animal” in thestep S318.

As explained in the above, in Embodiment 3, like Embodiment 1 andEmbodiment 2, a user can set a category of an intended object by usingthe priority object setting, by using the setting menu on the displayscreen and so on, so that the intended object can be exclusively set asthe main object.

In addition, if the user wants to set an intended non-priority object asthe main object, the user can manually set the focus detection frame 402that indicates a starting position of the focus detection on theintended non-priority object and can instruct to start the focusdetection by pressing the shutter release switch 62.

Therefore, the priority object setting can be temporarily changed, sothat the intended object whose category is different from the categoryset in advance by the priority object setting can be newly set as themain object.

By this way, like Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, without troublesomeoperations such as opening a setting menu on the display screen eachtime when changing the category for the main object, the category of thepriority object setting can be quickly changed during displaying thelive view images, so that the category of an intended object can beeasily changed to the main object.

In addition, if the intended object is lost or if the pressing of thefirst shutter release switch 62 is stopped, the temporarily changedpriority object setting is smoothly restored.

Embodiment 4

Next, Embodiment 4 will be explained.

In Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, if a user wants to set an intendednon-priority object as the main object, by touching the intended objecton the display screen and so on, the priority object setting can betemporarily changed, so that the intended object can set as the mainobject.

In Embodiment 3, when a user manually set the focus detection frame 402that indicates a starting position of the focus detection on theintended non-priority object and instructs to start the focus detectionby pressing the shutter release switch 62 and so on, the priority objectsetting can be temporarily changed, so that the intended object whosecategory is different from the category set in advance by the priorityobject setting can be newly set as the main object.

On the contrary, in Embodiment 4, an icon or characters that indicates acurrent priority object setting displayed on the display screen, or apredetermined button in the operation unit 70 is allotted with afunction for changing the priority object setting. And, by touching theicon or characters on the display screen or by pressing thepredetermined button, the priority object setting is changed, so that anintended object can be easily changed to the main object.

By this way, like Embodiments 1 to 3, without troublesome operationssuch as opening a setting menu on the display screen each time whenchanging the category for the main object, the category of the priorityobject setting can be quickly changed during displaying the live viewimages, so that the category of an intended object can be easily changedto the main object.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processingapparatus in Embodiment 4.

In Embodiment 4, repeated description or explanation on the sameprocesses as those in Embodiments 1 to 3 will be omitted.

In a case where a user selects one of the still image photography modeand the movie image photography mode by using the mode switch 60, andthe digital camera 100 stars the selected photography mode, the processflow illustrated in FIG. 12 is executed.

The Process flow illustrated in FIG. 12 is performed by the systemcontrol unit 50 by reading out the predetermined programs from thenonvolatile memory 52, by expanding the program in the system memory 56,and by controlling operations or processes of each unit included in thedigital camera 100.

In a step S401, the priority object setting set in advance by a user isread out from the system memory 56, so that the category of the mainobject is determined, then the process flow proceeds to a step S302.

In addition, icons or characters indicating the priority object settingis displayed on the display screen of the display unit 28, then theprocess flow proceeds to a step S402.

Steps S402 and S403 are respectively the same as the steps S102 and S103in Embodiment 1, so that repeated description of them will be omitted.

In a step S404, it is determined whether or not the object whosecategory is the same as the category set by the priority object settingis detected in the object detection performed in the step S403.

That is, if the priority object setting is “human”, it is determinedwhether objects of the category “human” is detected or not, and if thepriority object setting is “animal”, it is determined whether objects ofthe category “animal” is detected or not.

If “Yes” in the steps S404, the process flow proceeds to the step S405,and “No” in the steps S404, the process flow proceeds to the step S406.

In the step S405, the main object region is selected based on a resultof the object detection performed in the step S403, and the position andthe size of the main object region are renewed.

In addition, the position and the size of the object frame, which isdisplayed on the display screen of the display unit 28 in the automaticselection condition for indicating the main object region, are alsorenewed, then the process flow proceeds to the step S407.

In step S406, since it is determined that the main object whose categoryis the same as the category set by the priority object setting is notdetected, the automatic selection for the main object is turned off, theposition and the size of the main object region is reset to 0, and theobject frame, which is displayed on the display screen of the displayunit 28 in the automatic selection condition for indicating the mainobject region, is renewed to disappear, then the process flow proceedsto the step S407.

Steps S404 to S406 correspond to an automatic selection process in thedigital camera 100 for selecting the main object, in which an optimumobject is automatically selected from objects whose category has beenset by the priority object setting and an object frame indicating themain object region selected by the automatic selection is displayed.

In a step S407, it is determined whether or not the icon or characters,which indicates the current priority object setting, displayed on thedisplay screen is touched by a touch operation to the touch paneloperation unit 72.

If “Yes” in the step S407, the process flow proceeds to a step S408 andif “No” in the step S407, the process flow proceeds to a step S409.

In the step S408, the current priority object setting is changed toanother category.

For example, if the priority setting is “human”, the priority setting ischanged to “animal”, if the priority setting is “animal”, the prioritysetting is changed to “human”

If the priority object setting includes more than two categories, eachtime the icon or the character on the display screen is touched, settingmay be sequentially and cyclically changed, or the category may bechanged to a category other than the category set as the priority objectsetting, which is detected in the step S403,

In a step S409, it is determined whether or not the predetermined buttonthat is allotted with the function for changing the priority objectsetting is pressed by a user.

If “Yes” in the step S409, the process flow proceeds to a step S410, if“No” in the step S409, the process flow returns to the step S402 andstarts processing a next image frame.

In the step S410, the current priority object setting is changed toanother category.

For example, if the current priority object setting is “human”, thecurrent priority object setting is changed to “animal”, and if thecurrent priority object setting is “animal”, the current priority objectsetting is changed to “human”.

If the priority object setting includes more than two categories, eachtime the icon or the character on the display screen is touched, settingmay be sequentially and cyclically changed, or the category may bechanged to a category other than the category set as the priority objectsetting, which is detected in the step S 403.

As explained in the above, in Embodiment 4, like Embodiment 1 andEmbodiment 2, a user can set a category of an intended object by usingthe priority object setting, specifically by using the setting menu onthe display screen and so on, so that the intended object can beexclusively set as the main object.

In addition, if the user wants to set an intended non-priority object asthe main object, by touching an icon or characters that indicates acurrent priority object setting, the priority object setting is quicklychanged, so that an intended object can be easily changed to the mainobject.

Or, by pressing a predetermined button in the operation unit 70 allottedwith a function for changing the priority object setting, the priorityobject setting is quickly changed, so that an intended object can beeasily changed to the main object.

Thus, like Embodiments 1 to 3, without troublesome operations such asopening a setting menu on the display screen each time when changing thecategory for the main object, the category of the priority objectsetting can be quickly changed during displaying the live view images,so that the category of an intended object can be easily changed to themain object.

In this regard, although the image processing apparatus in the aboveEmbodiments is explained by using the image pickup apparatus, the imageprocessing apparatus may be a PC, a tablet, or the like that does nothave image pickup function.

In addition, units in the above Embodiments may include discreteelectric circuits or a FPGA, a CPU, and so on.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary Embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary Embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

Meanwhile, a computer program for realizing some or all of the controlsin the present Embodiments and the functions of the above-describedEmbodiments may be supplied to an image processing device through anetwork or various storage mediums. In addition, a computer in the imageprocessing device (or a CPU, an MPU, or the like) may read and executecomputer programs. In this case, the programs and a storage mediumstoring the programs constitute the present invention.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2020-26290 filed on Feb. 19, 2020, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: atleast one processor or circuit configured to function as: an objectdetection unit configured to detect an object categorized as one of atleast two categories from an image; a setting unit configured to set afirst category as a priority category on an object having apredetermined priority among the objects detected by the objectdetection unit; and a region designation unit configured to designate apredetermined region on an object on a display screen; wherein thesetting unit is configured to change the priority category from thefirst category to a second category different from the first category ina case where the predetermined region of the object designated by theregion designation unit is the second category.
 2. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the region designation unit setsthe predetermine region in a case where an object on the display screenis touched.
 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the region designation unit sets the predetermine region in acase where an object on the display screen is designated by a pointingdevice.
 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe region designation unit sets the predetermine region according tosetting a focus detection region on the display screen.
 5. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the regiondesignation unit sets the predetermine region in a case where a focusdetection region is set on the display screen and then the focusdetection is started by operating a predetermined operation unit.
 6. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein thepredetermined operation unit includes a shutter release button.
 7. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the settingunit is configured to set the first category on an object by using amenu selection on the display screen.
 8. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is configured to changethe priority category from the second category to the first category ina case where the predetermined region of the object designated by theregion designation unit is lost.
 9. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a tracking unit configured totrack the predetermined region of the object designated by the regiondesignation unit based on color information or luminance information.10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thesetting unit is configured to set the second category as the prioritycategory in a case where an image pickup operation is started by using apredetermined operation unit, after the setting unit changes thepriority category from the first category to the second category in acase where the predetermined region of the object designated by theregion designation unit is the second category.
 11. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unitconfigured to display the object of which category is corresponding tothe priority category differently from the other object.
 12. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising anadjusting unit configured to adjust a focus condition or an exposurecondition on a priority basis with regard to the predetermined region ofthe object of which category is corresponding to the priority category13. An image pickup apparatus comprising: at least one processor orcircuit configured to function as: an image pickup unit configured toobtain an object image; an object detection unit configured to detect anobject categorized as one of at least two categories from the imageobtained by the image pickup unit; a setting unit configured to set afirst category as a priority category on an object having apredetermined priority among the objects detected by the objectdetection unit; and a region designation unit configured to designate apredetermined region on an object on a display screen; wherein thesetting unit is configured to change the priority category from thefirst category to a second category different from the first category ina case where the predetermined region of the object designated by theregion designation unit is the second category.
 14. An image processingmethod comprising: detecting an object categorized as one of at leasttwo categories from an image; setting a first category as a prioritycategory on an object having a predetermined priority among the objectsdetected by the detecting; and designating a predetermined region on anobject on a display screen; wherein the priority category is changedfrom the first category to a second category different from the firstcategory in a case where the predetermined region of the objectdesignated by the designating is the second category.
 15. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores a computerprogram for executing the following: detecting an object categorized asone of at least two categories from an image; setting a first categoryas a priority category on an object having a predetermined priorityamong the objects detected by the detecting; and designating apredetermined region on an object on a display screen; wherein thepriority category is changed from the first category to a secondcategory different from the first category in a case where thepredetermined region of the object designated by the designating is thesecond category.